Zayn Malik's first solo project is a Rae Sremmurd cover

Zayn Malik released his first official solo song since departing One Direction on Monday, and it is certainly a new, um, direction.

Plugging in more vocal runs than a Christina Aguilera single, Malik takes on the choruses of the single by young Atlanta rap duo Rae Sremmurd while British rapper MIC Righteous spits original verses over the song's minimalist electronic beat.